It was an all-Newton finale for the Training League (six and under, coach pitch) Dixie Youth District Championship game June 23 at Mountain Park in Gwinnett County.

The Newton County American All-Star Team walked away with the title by beating the Newton County National All-Star Team, 19-3.

The American All-Stars dominated their bracket by winning six games before the bracket championship game against South Gwinnett.

Coached by Ken Harper, Greg Shirley, Crandall Stamps and Henry Younker, the all-star team was fielded by Jamal Boykin, Harrison Floyd, Conner Gandy, Brayden Harper, Joshua Houseworth, Hunter Lane, Christian Murray, John Shirley, Ryan Shirley, Crandall Stamps, Jackson Wilder and Samuel Younker.

The American All-Stars beat Peachtree Ridge (18-8), Norcross American (17-4), Duluth Northern (16-0), Peachtree Ridge (15-1) and Norcross American (14-4) in the 10-team double elimination bracket.

The Newton American team then defeated South Gwinnett Northern to become the bracket champion before facing - and beating - the Newton County National team, who was the champion of its bracket.

The Newton County National All-Star Team included McClain Allgood, John Baggett, Allen Brown, Jr. Gaither, Wyatt Hamby, Griffin McQueen, Ayden Middlebrooks, JT Webb, Dalton Whitley, Cory Wilson, William Wolf and Samuel Wright.

The National All-Stars were coached by head coach Jeremy Webb, DJ Wilson, Chuck Baggett and Tony Middlebrooks.

Webb said that according to the Mountain Park tournament director, the games that the National All-Star teams played were some of the most exciting of the tournament.

The National All-Stars defeated Brookwood International (8-6), Duluth Southern (15-2), Mountain Park (17-7), South Gwinnett American (16-13), Norcross National (21-20) and South Gwinnett American (16-15).

The most exciting game came in the bracket championship against Norcross American, which ended in extra innings with Newton hitting two home runs in its final at-bats and holding off a strong Norcross team for the win, 24-19.

According to Newton County Recreation Department athletic supervisor, Ricky Vaughn, it was the first time that two Newton County teams played each other for the district championship in the Training Division.

Vaughn was very impressed with how both teams played, and was especially pleased with how the Newton fans supported both teams through out the tournament and in the championship duel.